Outside the cabin at Pelion Cave,
Thaumas sat with a worried expression, absentmindedly plucking at the Lyre as the breeze washed over him.
It was an instrument made by Zeus's son, Hermes, the "Messenger of the Gods."
It was also one of the earliest plucked string instruments in the West. Hermes later gave it to the god of light, Apollo, as an apology.
Apollo then gifted it to his own son, Orpheus.
It was worth mentioning that Orpheus was Chiron's disciple and Thaumas's senior brother.
It had to be said that Chiron was practically a master of everything. Astronomy, geography, music, strategy, calligraphy, painting—he was versed in all of it, and his martial skills were equally superb.
The one in Thaumas's hands had been crafted by Chiron in imitation of that divine instrument.
Unfortunately, while Chiron was a good teacher, Thaumas was not a good student.
Thaumas was mediocre in many respects. Even Pankration, the Ancient Greek style of combat, was something he had only barely learned. It was probably about as effective as calisthenics?
Of course, that was compared to his dazzling senior brothers, such as the future Hercules, Heracles.
This was the Age of Gods! Even a little girl could easily flip over a modern human.
Not to mention that his senior brothers were either demigods or sons of gods. Normally, Jason was the only one he could compare himself to.
Thinking of that only made him feel worse. He had actually fallen to the same level as that small fry Jason.
"Hey, hey, hey. Why do I feel like you're thinking something incredibly rude?"
Thaumas looked over at the voice.
Ah, as expected. That small-fry blond.
"It's nothing. Sigh, how could you possibly understand this hero's troubles?"
As he spoke, the music from Thaumas's Lyre grew even more sorrowful.
"Bastard! How dare you call yourself a hero in front of me? I will be the most dazzling hero in the entire world!"
Jason snapped back with an annoyed expression.
But in the next instant, the corners of Jason's lips curled up. He proudly puffed out his chest, folded his arms, and said provocatively,
"Teacher Chiron has already permitted me to leave the mountain. He said I am about to embark upon the path of a hero."
"While you can only stay on this mountain and listen to bards sing of my exploits!"
Jason stood tall, his nostrils pointed at the sun.
The music came to an abrupt stop.
Thaumas lowered his head in silence. Just where was he inferior to that blond brat?
But when he remembered Jason's legend, he came to terms with it.
Jason.
Among the mythological tales of Ancient Greece, two heroic epics shone the brightest. One was the Trojan War, and the other was Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece.
That radiant vessel known as the Argo. Nearly every great hero of Ancient Greece boarded that miracle ship, built from wood that would never be swallowed by the sea with the aid of Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom.
Together, they traveled to Colchis, the homeland of Medea, the "Betrayer Witch," to retrieve Ancient Greece's peerless treasure: the Golden Fleece, symbolizing wealth, power, and honor.
It was a glorious journey of fifty people, Jason's most renowned Heroic Spirit legend, and it had even become his Noble Phantasm, [Shining Ship That Tears the Sky].
But he really was begging for a beating, even though they got along quite well.
No, it would be more accurate to say that Thaumas got along well with every one of Chiron's students who had studied at Pelion Cave, provided they had met.
After all, shamelessly currying favor with famous people was sometimes an effective way to increase one's legend.
There was nothing embarrassing about seeking fame.
Combined with the relatively underdeveloped language arts of Ancient Greece and his past experience running pyramid schemes, he could already be called a Grand Debater—at least for this era.
"All right, I came to say goodbye. This time, I'm really leaving."
Jason's rare serious words actually sounded rather convincing.
For some reason, perhaps because heroes appreciated one another, the two of them got along surprisingly well.
So, Thaumas would gamble one more time. He would gamble on Jason's intelligence.
What? Why "one more time"?
Naturally, because he had tried this with every senior brother who had left the mountain.
"Senior Brother Jason, since you're leaving the mountain, could you grant your junior brother one little requ—" Thaumas began with a grinning face, only to be interrupted.
"Don't even think about it!"
"Anything but that. Absolutely not!" Jason said coldly, without the slightest mercy.
"I don't want to be made to stand as punishment!"
"Besides, Teacher Chiron is terrifying when he gets angry. I don't want to find out firsthand."
Just as Thaumas was about to argue, Jason poured another bucket of cold water over him.
"Don't think I don't know what you're planning! You want me to take the blame for you!"
Damn it! Since when had Jason become so smart? His plan had been exposed!
He had originally wanted to pin the blame for sneaking down the mountain on Jason. He hadn't expected Jason to refuse to take the bait. Did even Jason possess an ability like "critical decision-making"?
"Jason, we are brothers, dear friends! Shouldn't you help your brother fulfill his ideals?"
At that, Thaumas said no more and simply stared at him intently.
"My wisdom has long since seen through your true face. Don't say such things again. You say that to everyone, don't you?"
"Heracles and the others already told me."
Damn it, he had forgotten about that.
To be honest, Thaumas truly wanted to leave the mountain with Jason. Setting everything else aside, as long as he could board that radiant ship, his legend should become sufficient.
As long as he possessed a certain degree of legend, at D-rank, he would truly no longer fear "death." After all, he would be able to enter the Throne of Heroes.
He had considered lying low, but how could he gain a legend by hiding? He still had to rely on his own efforts.
No choice. He could only raise the stakes.
"Jason—no, I should say, Prince of Thessaly, son of Aeson, grandson of Cretheus, Diomedes!"
"As long as you agree, I can help you reclaim the throne usurped by your uncle, Pelias!"
At last, Thaumas unleashed his trump card.
Jason's expression visibly grew excited. He asked in disbelief, "How did you know? Was it Teacher Chiron?!"
Ever since Jason had fled pursuit, been taken in by Teacher Chiron, and given the name Jason, he had never told anyone about his past.
"That isn't important! What matters is that I can help you. You want to become king again too, don't you?"
Before Jason could say anything, Thaumas spoke again with devout sincerity.
"I promise you that as long as I still draw breath, I will help you reclaim your throne!"
"I swear it before the great Olympian Gods!"
This was the Nasuverse. This was the Age of Gods. This was Ancient Greece.
An era where gods, humans, and Phantasmal Species coexisted!
Precisely because of that, if one swore an oath to the gods, the gods could hear it and bear witness. Those who broke their oaths would receive the punishment they deserved.
Jason was tempted. This time, he truly wanted to do it.
"You, Jason, are a future great hero! Could a future great hero truly be so cowardly?!"
"Jason, you are my hero and the world's hero. So let us go together to the Kingdom of Iolcus in Thessaly! Let us reclaim the throne and glory that should have been yours!"
While the iron was hot, Thaumas continued to sweet-talk him.
"Fine, fine, fine. Then it's settled. You absolutely aren't allowed to go back on your word! Otherwise, I'll make you regret it!"
The two exchanged smiles and immediately hit it off.
And so, after skipping class, the two of them skipped school as well.
Under the setting sun, the lingering glow of dusk stretched their shadows long and longer still.
Yet as the two secretly departed, Chiron, the centaur sage, watched them from the mountaintop. He had always known.
"Go, children! Seek the meaning of becoming heroes! I shall grant you my blessing."
And so, the epic of heroes began.
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